Alma Defeats a Tyrant
Book of Mormon Notes - Tuesday, August 8, 2023, Alma 2
Although Nehor had been carried upon the top of the hill Manti where he acknowledged that what he had taught was contrary to the word of God, and although he suffered there an ignominious bdeath, his evil influence continued to spread throughout the Nephite society. Nehor had been lifted up in the pride of his heart, wearing very costly aapparel, and he had even begun to bestablish a cchurch after the manner of his preaching. Thus there was a church of Nehor that contended directly with the true Church of God.
Nehor was a large man, a strong man, and a cunning man. He was wise in terms of worldly wisdom and cunning. He influenced another cunning man named Amlici, and Amlici caused great destruction among the Nephites and even among the Lamanites. But Nehor’s influence was so pernicious and so pervasive, even after his death, and even after the death of his follower Amlici, that Mormon later includes several examples of the destruction that Nehor’s false doctrines caused:
Now it came to pass that when the bodies of those who had been cast into the fire were consumed, and also the records which were cast in with them, the chief judge of the land came and stood before Alma and Amulek, as they were bound; and he smote them with his hand upon their cheeks, and said unto them: After what ye have seen, will ye preach again unto this people, that they shall be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone?
Behold, ye see that ye had not power to save those who had been cast into the fire; neither has God saved them because they were of thy faith. And the judge smote them again upon their cheeks, and asked: What say ye for yourselves?
Now this judge was after the order and faith of Nehor, who slew Gideon.
And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek answered him nothing; and he smote them again, and delivered them to the officers to be cast into prison.
And when they had been cast into prison three days, there came many lawyers, and judges, and priests, and teachers, who were of the profession of Nehor; and they came in unto the prison to see them, and they questioned them about many words; but they answered them nothing. (Alma 14:14-18)
And,
Nevertheless, after many days their dead bodies were heaped up upon the face of the earth, and they were covered with a shallow covering. And now so great was the scent thereof that the people did not go in to possess the land of Ammonihah for many years. And it was called Desolation of Nehors; for they were of the profession of Nehor, who were slain; and their lands remained desolate. (Alma 16:11)
And,
And it came to pass that Aaron came to the city of Jerusalem, and first began to preach to the Amalekites. And he began to preach to them in their synagogues, for they had built synagogues after the order of the Nehors; for many of the Amalekites and the Amulonites were after the order of the Nehors. (Alma 21:4)
And,
Now the greatest number of those of the Lamanites who slew so many of their brethren were Amalekites and Amulonites, the greatest number of whom were after the order of the Nehors.
Now, among those who joined the people of the Lord, there were none who were Amalekites or Amulonites, or who were of the order of Nehor, but they were actual descendants of Laman and Lemuel.
And thus we can plainly discern, that after a people have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God, and have had great knowledge of things pertaining to righteousness, and then have fallen away into sin and transgression, they become more hardened, and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never known these things. (Alma 24:28-30)
Why would Mormon include this story from Alma the Younger’s record? Why would Mormon recount the story of Nehor, an antiChrist and a purveyor of priestcraft? Besides the fact that Nehor’s awful influence led to much destruction among the Nephites and even among the Lamanites, why would Mormon share this story with his future audience? Is the doctrine of Nehor, or a similar doctrine, still among us today? Is priestcraft still among us today? We know that it is, because Jesus Christ Himself prophesied that priestcraft would be pervasive among the latter-day gentiles.
Let’s take a closer look at Nehor and his doctrines and see if we might find any latter-day parallels:
He preached that which he termed to be (but was not) the word of God
Can you think of anyone who preaches what they term to be (but is not) the word of God? Consider the so-called “Doctrine of Christ” movement. Also consider the deceptive work of Julie Hanks, for example. They seem to have taken a page directly from Nehor’s playbook.
He bore down against the Church
Can you think of anyone who bares down against the Church? John Dehlin and his ilk come immediately to mind, may heaven have mercy upon each of their souls.
Whom do you know who declares that every priest and teacher ought to become popular? In our world of podcasts and YouTube personalities, I can hardly think of anyone who doesn’t aim primarily toward popularity.
He declared unto the people that they ought dnot to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people
Are there popular teachers who are supported by the people in this way?
Ah, the false doctrine of universalism. Wasn’t this one of Lucifer’s basic tenets from the pre-mortal existence, namely, that he would save everyone? The true doctrine of Christ is the most expansive and merciful for saving as many of God’s children who desire salvation through Jesus Christ. The counterfeit doctrine of Nehor, a type of universalism, is certainly a deceptive doctrine that is prevalent today. Nephi’s merciful prayer contains the true doctrine of which Nehor’s universalism is the counterfeit:
And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his akingdom at that great and last day. (2 Nephi 33:12)
He testified unto the people that they bneed not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had ccreated all men, and had also dredeemed eall men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life
More false doctrine of universalism… false doctrine that causes human beings to think that all is well and that we can eat, drink, and be merry without any regard for God or His laws. Do we see any of these kinds of teachings in our world today?
He taught these things so much that many did believe on his words
Are there many people who still follow the doctrines of Nehor?
Are there many people today who support antiChrists and priestcraft with money?
He began to be lifted up in the pride of his heart
Are there any popular teachers who are lifted up in the pride of their hearts?
Do they wear costly apparel?
Are there any organizations or churches that have been established to teach Nehor-like doctrines?
It was no accident that Mormon made sure to explain what Nehor’s doctrines were and why they were so destructive. Mormon foresaw the priestcraft that would be prevalent in our time, and these stories about Nehor and Amlici, and the resistance to Nehor and Amlici by Gideon, Alma the Younger, and others, help us to understand how best to deal with such challenges.
Amlici took Nehor’s doctrines and ran with them. He became the political arm of Nehor’s church, creating a faction within Nephite society that drew away many people and caused much contention and even a terrible war.
I find it instructive to consider the conflict between good and evil that is found throughout the Book of Mormon, with great heroes and righteous characters who nobly contend against the villains. Each conflict - for example, Nephi vs. Laman and Lemuel, Jacob vs. Sherem, Abinadi vs. King Noah, Alma the Younger vs. Amlici, etc. - is a microcosm of the conflict between Lucifer and our Savior Jesus Christ in the pre-mortal existence, and up to the present day. Jesus Christ only does the will of His Father and glorifies Him, whereas the devil opposes Jesus Christ and everything good thing that comes from Jesus Christ.
The heights of such conflicts are evident in secular history as well. Consider the conflicts between George Washington and King George, between Lincoln and his foes, and between Churchill and Hitler. The conflict continues, and the battle rages, because the Lord’s work continues and until it is destroyed, evil will always oppose the good. No man understood this better than the Prophet Joseph Smith. This is one reason why I love Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge’s magnificent talk on “The Prophet Joseph Smith”:
Opposition, criticism, and antagonism are companions to the truth. Whenever the truth with regard to the purpose and destiny of man is revealed, there will always be a force to oppose it. Beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, down to the ministry of Christ, and on down to our day, there has always been and will ever be an effort to deceive, derail, oppose, and frustrate the plan of life.
Look for the biggest dust cloud billowing above the most dirt that is kicked at One who was most opposed, challenged, and rejected, beaten, abandoned, and crucified, One who descended below all things, and there you will find the truth, the Son of God, the Savior of all mankind. Why did they not leave Him alone?
Why? Because He is the truth, and the truth will always be opposed.
And then look for one who brought forth another testament of Jesus Christ and other scripture, look for one who was the instrument by which the fulness of the gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ were restored to the earth, look for him and expect to find the dirt flying. Why not leave him alone?
Why? Because he taught the truth, and the truth will always be opposed.
The opposition was great and the dirt was flying around Alma the Younger as well. Since his conversion by the testimony of Abinadi, Alma the Younger had faced great opposition from tyrants such as King Noah, Amulon, and Nehor. Now he confronted another tyrant named Amlici, with whom he contended face to face:
And it came to pass that Alma fought with Amlici with the sword, face to face; and they did contend mightily, one with another.
And it came to pass that Alma, being a man of God, being exercised with much afaith, cried, saying: O Lord, have mercy and bspare my life, that I may be an instrument in thy hands to save and preserve this people.
Now when Alma had said these words he contended again with Amlici; and he was strengthened, insomuch that he slew Amlici with the sword. (Alma 2:29-31)
I love Alma the Younger’s mighty prayer to God at this crucial time:
And it came to pass that Alma, being a man of God, being exercised with much afaith, cried, saying: O Lord, have mercy and bspare my life, that I may be an instrument in thy hands to save and preserve this people. (Alma 2:30)
These villains, and these heroes of the Book of Mormon have long since gone the way of all the earth, but their courage and their examples still teach us. The great tyrants of the past, including modern tyrants such as Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot have also gone the way of all the earth, along with those who opposed them. But tyranny itself has not yet vanished from the earth. There are still many Nehors and Amlicis that must be opposed. There are tyrants and dictators that still cause terror and havoc to spread. Tyranny is still an awful reality.
Where are the Alma the Youngers who will stand up to such tyranny? Where are the Alma the Youngers who will pray:
O Lord, have mercy and bspare my life, that I may be an instrument in thy hands to save and preserve this people. (Alma 2:30)
It is my opinion that Mormon’s book has helped to prepare many such modern heroes, including missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that Mormon deliberately included such stories of heroes, including the great Captain Moroni, in order to prepare a way for the destruction of tyranny in preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior and the Greatest Hero against all tyranny, including the tyranny of that monster, the devil.